(This piece was originally published on 9 February, and is being republished in light of the Supreme Court's recent observations on the rise in hate speech cases, and the State's response to them.)
Keeping in mind its duty to protect fundamental rights and constitutional values, the Supreme Court, in October 2022, directed the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi to file a report enlisting what action had been taken by them with regard to the instances of hate speech (referred in the writ petition before them).
The court also asked the state governments to take necessary steps as and when any act is done within their jurisdiction which attracts hate-speech related offences (such as under Sections 153A, 153B, 295A and 506 of IPC), and further to issue directions to the subordinate authorities to take appropriate action at the earliest irrespective of the religion of the speaker.